PASADENA, Calif. – U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley’s careful yet unorthodox scheming had paid off time and again as his side marched to Saturday’s CONCACAF Gold Cup final.

There was no plan, however, for an early injury that robbed the Americans of a key defender. The revamped back line, as well as a shocking two-goal advantage, crumbled under the Mexican onslaught as a game that began with such promise ended with a 4-2 triumph for “El Tri” before 93,420 spectators at a heavily partisan Rose Bowl.

Two years ago, the U.S. took a 2-0 lead over Brazil at the FIFA Confederations Cup final in Johannesburg. It was a “can you believe this?” moment that proved too much for the U.S., as the five-time world champions recovered and won 3-2.

That tournament, a World Cup warm-up featuring continental champions, was among the awards at stake in Saturday’s contest – along with bragging rights in the increasingly-heated U.S.-Mexico rivalry and the championship of the 40-nation confederation of countries in North America and the Caribbean.

An American victory would have pulled them even with Mexico at five titles apiece. After 25 minutes at the Rose Bowl, it appeared that honor was in the bag.

But history would repeat itself.

It was everything a final isn’t supposed to be. Where there’s usually caution, there was daring. Where there’s usually cynicism, there was attacking verve.

Bradley set the tone for the day with his stunning decision to start Freddy Adu. The one-time wunderkind was a surprise inclusion on the Gold Cup roster, and Bradley tempered expectations right from the start, indicating Adu was called in for the first time in two years so U.S. coaches could gauge the progress he’s made while playing in the Turkish second division.

It was yet another bold Bradley stroke that paid off. Adu was lively early, giving the Mexicans plenty to think about when he had the ball in the offensive half. Although “El Tri” managed the ball better – to the delight of a crowd that changed “olé!” with nearly every innocuous pass – it was Adu and the U.S. that seized the advantage.

In the eighth minute, a corner kick won thanks to some nice interplay between Adu and right back Steve Cherundolo was delivered by Adu toward the near post, where midfielder Michael Bradley was there to head it home.

In the 23rd, the U.S. was up by two. Adu found space on the left and fed Clint Dempsey with a well-timed square ball. Dempsey spotted Donovan running behind the defense, and the U.S. national team’s all-time leading goal scorer finished cleanly.

The U.S. appeared to have a comfortable lead, but in fact, the game was already lost.

In the 11th minute, the rock-solid Cherundolo left the game with a sprained left ankle. Bob Bradley had several options, and he chose Jonathan Bornstein, who had yet to play a minute in the Gold Cup but who performed well at last summer’s World Cup when called upon. Bornstein went to left back and Eric Lichaj switched to the right.

Jonathan Spector, who played so well for West Ham United during the English Premier League season and has significant experience on defense, was left on the bench, as was two-time Gold Cup starter Tim Ream.

The Mexicans then tore the U.S. apart.

In the 29th, West Ham United midfielder Pablo Barrera ran onto a looping ball from midfield and found the space between U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard and the left post. The game was all even seven minutes later, as Andrés Guardado beat Howard to a rebound.

While the pre-game hype focused on Mexico forward Javier “Chícharito” Hernández, the young Manchester United scoring machine (and he did play well on Saturday), the real damage was caused by Barrera and the electric Giovani dos Santos, who consistently put the U.S. defense on its heels.

In the 50th minute, Mexico took its inevitable lead. Barrera found space on the U.S. left, collected a pass and hit a perfect shot with the outside of his right foot past Howard. It was the third time Bornstein’s side was breached for a goal.

Dos Santos put an appropriate exclamation point on the fiesta in the 76th, holding the ball for an eternity in the U.S. penalty area, pulling Howard out of the net then chipping it over a helpless defense into the upper left corner.

The U.S. had several chances to pull one back – Dempsey hit the crossbar when it was still 3-2, but there was a sense that Mexico would score the goals it needed.

Mexico finished the Gold Cup 6-0-0 and is CONCACAF champion for a sixth time. Four of those titles have come with victories over the U.S. in the title game. “El Tri” will play in the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Bradley and the Americans, meanwhile, will be left to lament the fact that they no longer occupy the CONCACAF summit alongside their rivals to the south. With players like Chícharito and Dos Santos, Mexico has opened a talent gulf that may take years to close.